As the world emerges from unprecedented challenges of the pandemic, there’s a collective hunger for stories of victory. In the Philippines, a country that saw one of the longest and strictest pandemic lockdowns in the world, millions are in need of a reason to cheer, be inspired and continue to hope.
The partnership between the Globe Group, the country’s leading digital solutions platform, and ONE Championship (ONE), Asia’s largest global sports media company, is looking for a new breed of Filipino Champions who will wave the Philippine flag on the world stage.
As a pre-holiday offering, Globe and ONE are bringing Filipino fight fans one of the biggest international sporting events in the country since the pandemic: ONE 164.
Slated on December 3 at the SM MOA Arena, ONE 164 will feature nine Filipino mixed martial arts fighters going head to head against international athletes.
The event, which marks ONE’s return to Manila since early 2020 and its last live event of the year, will see Filipino-American Brandon Vera battling it out against Iranian Amir Aliakbari. Fighters from Team Lakay, the fabled martial arts group based in La Trinidad province, will also take to the circle against opponents from all over the world.
As the main event, reigning ONE Championship World Strawweight Champ Joshua Pacio will defend his belt against top-ranked American Jarred Brooks.
In a press event at The Theater in Solaire Wednesday night, ONE Championship Founder and CEO Chatri Sityodtong spoke of the enduring partnership with Globe, including production and airing of the ONE Warrior Series.
The 12-part reality competition, which just concluded this month, featured the journey of 16 Filipino fighters who battled for a six-figure ONE Championship contract and the opportunity to compete on the global stage. ONE Warrior Series winner Adonis Sevilleno will also see action at ONE 164 for his first official ONE Championship match.
Chatri Sityodtong called Globe a very important partner in pursuing the shared goal of producing Filipino world champions from the grassroots.
Globe Group President and CEO Ernest Cu shared how Globe has always provided support for Filipino athletes in various sports, from soccer and rugby to tennis. Athletes supported by Globe include Filipino tennis star Alex Eala, who Cu described as “a picture of what Filipino success can be in sports.”
“Our partnership is borne out of Globe’s desire to help the Filipino athlete. We desire to have a Filipino world champion and there’s no other great partnership than with ONE Championship,” Cu said at the event.
Even with the recent conclusion of the ONE Warrior Series, Cu said Globe will continue to support Filipino athletes towards global success.
“We don’t stop at identifying a fighter who wins a reality TV series. We want to give this fighter an opportunity to play on the world stage,” Cu said.
To know more about ONE 164, visit https://www.onefc.com/events/one164/. Those who would like to watch the December 3 fight can get their tickets at 20% off at SM Tickets when they use the Globe promo code GLOBEONE164.
To learn more about Globe, visit www.globe.com.ph.
